Cerebral Cortex

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the cerebral cortex, as presented in lecture notes.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of neural tissue in the brain, responsible for various higher brain functions.

Sulci

Grooves or depressions on the cerebral cortex.

Gyri

Folds or convolutions of the cerebral cortex.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for personality, motor functions, and higher cognitive functions.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information and is involved in spatial orientation.

Temporal Lobe

Responsible for auditory processing, language comprehension and memory.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual processing.

Central Sulcus

The groove that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Precentral Gyrus

The primary motor area located in the frontal lobe.

Postcentral Gyrus

The primary somesthetic (somatosensory) area located in the parietal lobe.

Broca's Area

A region of the frontal lobe responsible for speech production.

Wernicke's Area

A region of the temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension.

Corpus Callosum

A large bundle of commissural fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Commissural Fibers

Fibers that connect corresponding areas of the two hemispheres.

Association Fibers

Fibers that connect cortical regions within the same hemisphere.

Projection Fibers

Fibers that conduct impulses between the cortex and lower brain areas.

Astereognosis

The inability to recognize objects by touch, often due to lesions in the sensory cortex.

Stereognosis

The ability to recognize the form, size, and texture of an object by touch.

Primary Visual Area

Area located in the occipital lobe that processes visual information.

Primary Auditory Area

Area located in the temporal lobe that processes auditory information.

Prefrontal Area

Part of the frontal lobe involved in complex cognitive behavior and personality.

Taste Area

The area involved in the perception of taste, located at the lower end of the postcentral gyrus.

Homunculi

Representations of the body in the brain, illustrating the body parts' motor and sensory functions.

Plasticity

The ability of the nervous system to change and adapt over time.

Cerebral Arteries

Blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, including the anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries.

Stroke

A medical condition that occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted.

Ischemic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A type of stroke caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.